Ching Shih

CHING SHIH

Ching Shih also known as Madame Ching, was a prominent pirate in Qing China. Qing, is the last imperial dynasty of China. Shih controlled the China Sea in the early 19th century by commanding over 300 Chinese sailing ships. She entered into conflict with the British Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the Qing dynasty during her piracy reign. Ching Shih is considered to be the most successful pirate in history.

Ching Shih did not start out a successful pirate, nor was she born into a family of powerful pirates. She was a Chinese prostitute that worked in a brothel. She was rescued by a man named Cheng I, who was a notorious pirate. Unlike Shih, Cheng I came from a family of notorious pirates. Shih and Cheng I married each other in 1801 and this is when the start of their powerful pirate fleet began.

By 1804 their piracy force, known as the Red Flag Fleet, was the most powerful in all of China. Unfortunately, Cheng I died just six years after the marriage. As stated on Wikipedia: “Ching Shih immediately began maneuvering her way into his leadership position” (Wikipedia). Shih, rather than giving up, took matters into her own hands to become the new captain because she craved the power and glory of being the new leader of the Red Flag Fleet.

While under her control, Ching Shih’s fleet took over many coastal villages. She became known as "The Terror of South China”. Chinese, Portugese, and British naval ships all lost to her fleet. Shih set forth very strict rules and laws. The rule that was set that she is most known for was regarding the treatment of captured female prisoners. The article by Szczepanski says it best when she tells us: “Female captives who were considered to be “ugly” were released, unharmed. A pirate who wished to take a beautiful female captive as their wife was free to do so, but they were bound to be faithful and to care for her. Unfaithfulness and rape were both offenses for which a pirate would be executed” (Szczepanski). This means that women had to be treated respectfully and if a pirate of Shihs’ failed to do so, then they would be killed.

I believe that Ching Shih represents a Warrior Woman because of her strength and courage. Her story is a classic “rags to riches” tale. She became a powerful female pirate, in charge of a large fleet and a massive crew. As time went on she became more and more powerful. Though she could have simply stepped down from the organization after her husband died, she instead saw it as an opportunity to rise and become a powerful pirate lord. Because Ching Shih is remembered as one of the most successful pirates in history, she has been featured in numerous books, novels, video games, and films in Asia and other parts of the world.

Work Cited:

 Wikipedia contributors. "Ching Shih." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free.         Encyclopedia, 27 Oct. 2017. Web. 31 Oct. 2017.

Szczepanski, Kallie. "Zheng Shi, Pirate Lady of China." ThoughtCo, Jul. 30, 2015,                          thoughtco.com/zheng-shi-pirate-lady-of-china-195617.

Meares, Hadley. “7 Female Adventurers Who Broke All the Rules.” History.com, A&E Television                    Networks, 14 July 2017, www.history.com/news/history-lists/7-female-adventurers-who-broke-all-the-rules.